Telangana shutdown called for Monday

HYDERABAD: The Telangana Joint Action Committee (JAC) has called for a shutdown in Telangana Monday to protest large-scale arrests and "police excesses" during the first day of its "rail blockade".Condemning arrests and "false cases" against the protestors, JAC convener M. Kodandaram Sunday night called for the shutdown in Telangana, which comprises 10 districts including Hyderabad.Kodandaram urged people to come out on the tracks in large numbers to lodge their protest against the arrests of hundreds of people across Telangana.The JAC, which is spearheading the movement for separate Telangana state, had called for three-day "rail blockade" which began Saturday.The JAC leader alleged that police did not spare even women. "As many as 60 women are still in police stations in violation of the directions of the Supreme Court," he said.Prominent women leaders in police custody include Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MP Vijayshanti and TRS chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao's daughter K. Kavita.Kodandaram accused the state government of adopting repressive measures. He condemned the arrest of MPs, including those of the Congress, for serious offences under the Railway Protection Act.